Come, Follow Me: The Book of Mormon

Today our family finished our last "Come, Follow Me" study session for the Book of Mormon. We were prompted in the manual to think about what our study this year taught us about Jesus Christ. Here are a few of my thoughts to the prompts from our lesson:

"Something I learned about the Savior this year was..."

...that He really did inspire prophets to write things in the Book of Mormon that literally gives us a map for how to navigate a time of great uncertainty. In a way not nearly as clear as it has been in the past, this year's study of the Book of Mormon has really come to life in helping me realize how it helps keep us close to the Lord and how it exposes very subtle patterns that Satan is establishing to confuse and distract us. 

"Reading the Book of Mormon changed the way I..."

...approach teaching our kids. Amber and I talked years ago about what we should do for our daily family scripture study after finishing the Book of Mormon and as we read the promise by Joseph Smith that "man would get closer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book" and the promise from President Benson that "there is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation." We decided that our daily family scripture study would always be from the Book of Mormon and that we couldn't afford to miss out on those blessings by not keeping our study together in that book.  

"My favorite person/story in the Book of Mormon taught me that the Savior..."

...my favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon is 2 Nephi 25:26 but I think the story that always inspires me most is the story of Captain Moroni and Helaman and how they led a nation behind the "cause of the Christians" (Alma 48:10) to overcome overwhelming odds to preserve their freedoms and liberties for their families. 

I really do hope that our kids can build their own testimonies of the Book of Mormon and that it serves as a stabilizing force throughout their lives that keeps them close to the Savior and keeps them wanting to serve and lift others. 

Here we are December 27th.  December has literally flown by.  It was a relaxing busy month.  I don't know if I ever feel truly relaxed because there is always something needing to be done and someone needing help but we had a lot less that we have done and for the most part it has been alot of time with just our family and being home or having flexible time:).  But this month we spent our free time doing #lighttheworld for the most part and it was a lot of small or big moments that were really helpful to feel hope and goodness and generally just feeling good and positive.  

Some highlights:

-We brought over a Harry Potter puzzle wrapped and left it on the Shellines doorstep for the three girls

-We made a Holiday marble run and left it on the Pratts doorstep so they could play with it/add on to it while they were in Covid quarantine

-We fasted together in gratitude as a family 2 Sundays ago

-We had someone decorate our front door with Christmas trees and leave an envelope of money for our family (that we have set aside to help us buy plane tickets to go to NC next summer for our Haynie reunion

-Hallie and Aubrie made pumpkin bread for young women s and we delivered it to several people's homes

- We asked both sets of grandparents to share a story we hadn't heard from their childhood and share it with us and we read them one night all together on the couches.

-I wrote notes to each of our mom and dad's and sent them letting them know some of the things I loved about them (I thought it was so good for me to sit there thinking about each of them individually).

-we wrote loves notes for each other in our family and put them in our stockings. 

-we attended "Jospeh" play that Aubrie was in a few of the night performances and invited family to attend with us

-invited Mariam, Kayla and Karla over to paint and create a Christmas village.  It was soooo relaxing and enjoyable to be creative--we painted and glued and sang and talked for quite a few hours. 

-we planned a neighbor drive--we were working with International Hands that the church works with and we asked all our neighbors to donate items or full kits--then we put them all together on the 20th with the Pratts and delivered them the next day to the organization.  We put together hygiene kits, kitchen kits and utensil kits.  There was so much donated.  

-Had a google hangout with Haynies

-Read and acted out Luke 2--always a little thrown together but there was a sweet moment when Luke threw off his sheep ears and crawled over to see baby Jesus and said "awwww,  shhhhhhh and patted the doll's belly"

-Blake and I made salted caramels and we delivered them to Colie and Mane, Kyle and Tara and Dan.  

We also have played games, visited Risers for boxing day, skiied quite a bit (not me, the kids and once Ryan), volunteered at the WRC with Dan and Tara, went on a few hikes, made a video of musical performances for Randy and Karen for Christmas and spent way too much time online shopping--with a few hours in stores thrown in there, Made a candy dispenser out of legos for the NC Haynie boys and crowns with flowing ribbons for Lucy and Lila since we had their family for Christmas.  

Its been wonderful! I love this time of year so much!

Clara made St. Nicholas for school one remote day

dropping the kids off (Elliot, Robbie, Blake and Hallie are the Friday ski buddies) to ski

Joseph set

Wheeler Farm with Lucas and I 

Blake's teacher Julie made each of them a sweet tic tac toe board

Making our Christmas village--then we each took some home

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I had to take advantage of our kids (mostly) being in school this week.  There has been so many days of all or most of the them being home doing school here and I just need to be here so they can have help to really get the learning we want them to have.  So when Monday came and they were all in school I had to take advantage of a lot of errands I had been putting off....WITH Lucas in tow.  

He doesn't come to stores with me often in his short years.  And he is an active boy.  We had two days of errands that were quite adventurous.  Monday we were in Ross and there was not a buckle on their tiny carts. So after him almost falling out several times I took him out and let him just be around me on the floor. Not new, I have usually done that with kids--and have even lost them several times:) HE ran up and down the aisles laughing.  Then after awhile he started to explore and 5 minutes later I realized I hadn't heard his voice for the last 5 minutes.  I looked around where I was, no Lucas, then I started up and down every aisle and finished the entire store and hadn't found him.  I went to the toy area and then candy area again.  Finally I asked the security guard if she'd seen him leave the store and she said she wasn't sure but that she would make sure he didnt leave now as I kept searching.  I searched each aisle again.  THen I started getting on my hands and knees to see his little feet from the ground.  Nothing.  I went back to the security guard and asked for more help.  I went outside and went to the neighboring stores and asked if a little boy had come in alone.  I went and did a general search in the parking lot (my biggest fear since he's so little and a car could so easily run him over without knowing).  When I got back and the manager stopped me and asked for a description--an older lady near me overheard and said "you are describing Santa Claus--he has white blonde hair and hes wearing a red sweatshirt..." Except I couldn't enjoy her humor right then.  Eventually I had asked almost everyone shopping if theyd seen him and all the employees were helping me search.  I started YELLING his name.  Nothing.  Finally an employee yelled, wait I think I see him.  And there he was under a rack of jeans that touched the floor in the middle of them with a half eaten box of candy.  He had gotten it, hidden, unwrapped the plastic around it, opened the box and already gotten through half of it.  He didn't want to answer my yelling because he wanted to finish the candy first.  He knew it'd be gone.  He had candy all over his face.  I just sat on the ground next to him and held him while my heart stopped pounding.   RYan asked me later if I let him still eat it.  I hadn't even thought about it.  I thought he was out in the parking lot under a car or someone had grabbed him that quickly. It was a long 15-20 minutes.  And you just never know what Lucas is capable of.  :) 

He shows up upstairs sometimes after being put to bed and has managed to climb up on the desk and get out of his crib.  

He learned how to say "I wuv ganma" a few weeks ago for Karen's birthday we sent a video.  And now we all ask him to say I love you all the time.  He says "back" when he wants to go get something and then come back and wants you to "whait" for him.  He is saying so many more words I couldn't write them all down, but it is really adorable how he says everything.   "Wrrrr" is water.  "binki"--his great love. He was yelling "tuck" at the top of his lungs during church today because he couldn't find the truck he had brought and was checking all the rows around us. 

His smile is adorable with his little dimple and scrunched up nose and his eyes mostly disappear.  

Last night all the kids were at Aubrie's play (for the second time of the day) and Ryan and I are going again on Monday so we were running errands with Luke and then eating dinner just the three of us (Nuans) and hanging out with him.  He is pretty cute and entertaining.  Its fun to have moments of one on one like that with one of our kids. 

CHS has put on the production of Joseph this weekend--one more on Monday night.  And there has been so much energy and fun with it.  Aubrie has come alive.  I will ask her to write about it and post here next. 

Pre THanksgiving was Doxeys being here and we had an amazing adult date up at the Snowpine, eating and hottubbing in the Grotto.  Unreal.  And then  hiking up Pipeline all together. 

We headed down on Sunday after church and straightening the house to join the rest of the Jensens (and Aubrie and Robbie who had traveled to Gilbert with Doxeys earlier).  Jimmy offered to give us a free night stay at a MArriott that was about to expire and we just paid him $40. So we drove to Vegas with the four younger (open seats in the car!!!) and just had a bed for everyone and when Ryan and I woke up with Luke in the morning, the other there had already worked out and had 2 breakfasts :).  We let them swim and then took off for Gilbert and got there around 5:00.  Just in time for a FHE at Sullivans.  Gillespies stayed in their RV, our family stayed in the house, Doxeys stayed in the mobile home and then Pratts stayed in the Hatches home so we all were pretty comfortable. 

Monday FHE: an intense game of kickball in their backyard, followed by King Benjamin (Chad S) showing up in costume to preach to those "gathered in tents" a message.

Tuesday: Robbie, Aubrie and Hallie all stayed most of the week at Hatches to be with the older cousins.Robbie went and worked with Chads landscaping company for most of the day.  The rest of us played and hung out at Sullivans that day.  The weather was so nice.  Erika, Ryan and I went running most of the days.  That afternoon we all met at Gilbert regional park (one of the most amazing parks I've seen).  And the kids had so much fun--all ages--we stayed there for hours.  Then everyone went and grabbed dinner had dinner and played at Hatches. 

Wednesday: Laura set up an appt at Feed My Starving Children to go for 10 people.  Since our family hadnt ever been Ryan and I went with our 4 oldest and the rest of the older cousins.  It was SUCH a cool experience.  They provide special meals to many countries overseas.  They are based in MN.  We were all on a line together and we were racing.  I think in the end we had 17 boxes (with 36 meal kits in each one), we had so much fun yelling everytime we got a box done and racing the few other teams that were there. We told the kids that we had set aside $1200 for Christmas and that we'd spent 1/2 of that already and they could decide how much that was left we donated to the organization. In the end we spent $188 to donate.  Everyone left on cloud nine. (and me with a sliced open finger;)) On the way home, Ryan went through Old Gilbert and showed us the neighborhood he grew up in and was telling us all stories as we drove around and saw his old scout leaders house, where hed play whiffle ball etc.  That night our family went and hung out with Hatches and made their family dinner and got a tour of the mobile home. I had never seen the mobile home all remodeled.  I couldn't believe how much all the kids have done to it (especially Hatches and Gillespies.  We ate IC with Hatches and Doug and then brought the kids home and put them to bed.  THen made pies with Gillespies until midnight :)

Thursday: Everyone showed up at 8:00 (I dont know how) and we all got lined up to run teh turkey trot (this is like year 5 at the Sullivans--either the ward or the family) and Jimmy gave a long standing bet to give $100 to anyone that beat him. Robbie wanted it so bad.  They did the kids 1 mile fun run first.  Robbie and Blake and Hallie all did that one--the boys finished it in under 7 minutes.  They were running so fast.  Clara and Luke both did it too.  Luke was dead last but he ran it :) We made tunnels for all the kids coming in and the looks on all their faces--I love those experiences!  Then the adults and older kids all did the 5k.  Rob, Blake and Hallie ran that one as well.  Rob stayed with Jimmy for the first 2 miles nad then gassed.  Ryan and I were tryign to catch up to Blake the whole time.  I thought for sure the last mile or so, but he just kept his rythmn and beat both of us.  I think it was a little less than a 5k because I ran it in 25 minutes.  I have sure loved running this last year.  It's been my therapy. 

Nate and Kathy Hammond and their 5 boys showed up for Turkey Bowl.  And some of us starting making food. We all ahd finger foods and then everyeon left to go make their food assignments. 

AFter showering I played cards with Hallie and Carter and Miles (Hammond).  Those Hammond boys (they are 17, 16, 14, 11, and 9).  They are just such. good. boys.  I would love for our kids to be aroudn them more.  They are absolutely boys boys, but so polite and respectful and kind and just good.  Carter has down syndrome and he is so loving and remembers names so well. 

Thanksgiving dinner was amazing as usual. We ate on tables in Sullivans backyard with heaters.  Amber Kay had put little bags of colored mnm's on each plate and then there were corresponding cards that showed what you shared you were tahnkful for based on what color you got.  SO after all the adults sat around and shared which was actually really really good. I shared someone I was thankful for--which this year was Lucas, I have learned so much having him and being his mother and the other parts of life.  He is at such a fun age right now and I am enjoying him and interacting with him. 

Friday: Ryan and all the guys went golfing together.  There was a lot of chaos with kids that morning:)  I few of us girls went christmas shopping (including older cousin girls) and In the afternoon Ryan and I snuck away to go see Clint and Lawana instead of making it a family affair.  ANd then we started the Trek to Bethlehem which Hatches have been doing for years in their orchards.  We go about 1/2 mile from their house and trek there meeting a wisemen, shepard, angel and Roman centurion on the way.  Eventually going through their lit up orange orchards to arrive at the Nativity.  It was really good. 

Robbie got to go on a long dirtbike ride with Miles and Austin.  Heaven all around. THey let him ride their 230 and had him all geared up. 

After we had soup around a bonfire and then watched a movie outside. 

Saturday: We did our cousin and adult gift exchange.  And all of us talked to Randy and Karen in Cambodia taking turns for several hours. I LOVE the homemade gift exchange.  It is so good preparing for it and then watching the kids give to each other--so excited and proud.  And its just a bonding thing.  Most of the kids worked so hard on their gifts this year.  That night all of us adults went to Encanterra on the golf course for dinner and it was amazing views and eating outside by the fires. After we all went to Sullivans for Bingo night.  It was intense this year and I decided it might not be good for me to play that with Jensens anymore. :)

Lillys favorite animal is a penguin, so Hallie made a painting for her room. 

Sunday mornign we left super early and drove the 11 hours home...arriving safe and mostly sound. 

Goodness of the week

 

TOday we had nothing on our schedule.  It so rarely happens that its a treat when it does.  WE slept in and were slow out of bed /said goodbye to Jordans who had stayed overnight.  WE went running as a family to Wheeler Farm and fed ducks and walked around and ran back.  WE cleaned up the house and bedrooms really good while Luke napped.  Then we decided to cash in on our family summer reading challenge which is usually a trip with snacks to a nice movie theater but there is just slim pickins at the theater.  So we opted for Get Air instead for 2 hours.  Elliot came with as well.  Such a blast!  I left early and ran to the store, and went home to make stiry fry.  Then we ate, cleaned up, and Hallie and I made shakes and caramel popcorn that we all ate while watching a Christmas movie.  I just loved the whole day!!

and earlier in the week:

Becky Jo had asked me to go hiking Friday morning before she had work.  WE ended up hiking almost the entire way to Lake Blanche up Big Cottonwood.  It was about 3 hours of just good conversation--all sorts of topics, beautiful sun and not too cold.  I felt great about it:)

Risky business getting down icy paths in regular snowboots.  We were cracking up sliding and falling.

November 11th is Michaelmas--although not celebrated much here in the US, they do at Wasatch and its a favorite tradition.  The kids each  make lanterns at school in preparation. It was a little different this year because of Covid and so the lantern walk was just done here in our own neighborhood with just our family. I loved it though.  Clara, Hallie and I prepared the ginger cookies ahead of time and some chicken noodle soup to have when we got back.  We ended up eating it by candlelight from beeswax candles the kids made at school. It is a reflective walk, where you think about how we can be a light to others and be lit within each of us no matter what. 

and last but definitely not least....THEYRE HOME!!!!

Mom and dad arrived from AOA, MO completing an almost 2 year mission there in heaven (literally).   I know it is hard for them to be done and home.  However, we are so excited to get to live near them.  Those of us here in Utah ripped out a wall, drywalled it, painted, carpeted, changed outlets, got new doors, etc to get a room ready for them to live in downstairs temporarily while they remodel upstairs.  It was so satisfying to do that for them!